Absorption refrigerating apparatus



July 18, 1933.

R. s. TAYLOR 1,918,352

ABSORPTION REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 30, 1931 Patented July 18, 1933 v UNITED STATES PATENT? orrica ROBERT S. TAYLOR, 01' EVANSVILLE, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR TO-ELRTROLUX SERVED CORPORATION, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE ABSORPTION REFRIGERATING' APPARATUB Application filed January 30,1931. Serial 1104512307.

This invention relates to refrigerating system of the absorption type and more pa rticularly to the transfer of absorption llquld from the absorber to the generator in a continuous type absorption refrigerating apparatus.

In order to operate an absorption refrigerating apparatus continuously it is advisable either to circulate a pressure equalizing medium such as hydrogen which is used in refrigerating apparatuses known in commerce as the electrolux, or provide a positive pressure pump for transferring strong absorption liquid from the absorber to the generator. The pressure against WlllCll the liquid must be transferred de ends on the cooling water temperature in t e condenser.

The use of a pressure equalizing medium is satisfactory for small size installations where all the parts are-located close together, but

for large size installations for use 1n markets and similar places, or for any installation where the generator and absorber must be separated from the evaporator, such a system is not suitable.

It is possible to use a mechanical pump for pumping the liquid from the absorber to the generator and such a pump 1s now used 1n large commercial installations but is not suitable for smaller installations on account of service requirements for the moving parts. In addition, such a pump requires a motor for its operation so that most of the advantages .of the absorption type refrigerating apparatus are lost. The desirable type of pump 15 a heat operated pump which has no external moving parts.

It is an object of this invention to pro- 0 vide in a refrigerating system of the continuous absorption type a heat operated pump for circulating the liquid between the generator and absorber, which pump has noexternal moving parts and which will require 5 little or no servicing. Other ObJQCtS and advantages will be apparent from .the follow ing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein,

Fig. 1, is a diagrammatic view of an absorption refrigerating apparatus of the continuous' type ineludin a pump arrangement contemplated by this Invention; and I Fig. 2, a diagrammatic view of a modified pumping arrangement by which the genera tor heating means is also used to heat the pump chamber.

Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawing, a generator 10 is adapted to contain a solution of refrigerant -in an absorption liquid, which for the purposes of this description may be a water solution of ammonia, and is heated by any desirable means such as a burner 11. Ammonia vapor ex elled from solution in the generator 10 by lleat passes through rectifier 12 and into condenser 13. Liquid ammonia from the condenser flows through conduit 14 and is admitted into the evaporator 15 from chamber 16 throu h float valve 17. In the evaporator the liqui izes, absorbing heat from medium, and the ammonia vapor passes throu h conduit 18 into the absorber 19. The a sorber 19 and the condenser 13 may be ammonia vaporthe surrounding cooled by water circulating through jacket 20 around the absorber, through weak liquid cooler 21, and into the condenser 13, going to waste through pipe 22. Weak absorption liquid from the generator 10 passes through the heat-exchangers 23 and 21 into chamber 24 from where it is admitted into the absorber 19 through a float valve 25. The ammonia vapor rising through the baflle lates 26 in the absorber 19 is absorbed byt e descending weak liquid and enriched absorption liquid collects in the bottom of the absorber.

In order to pump enriched absorption liquid from the absorber into the generator there is provided a fluid ti t vessel 27 inclosing a chamber 29 and eated b some means such as a gas burner 28. Wit in the chamber 29 plates 30 and 31 partition ofi' a chamber which communicates with chamber 29 over the top of partition late 30. Chamber 32 communicates with the bottom of the absorber 19 through conduit 33 in which there is a normally open heat operated valve 34 provided with heat radiating fins 35. A siphon 36 extends from within chamber 32 into chamber 29 and the latter communicates with the generator through conduit 37 vIn ration, enriched absorption liquid from 0 absorber flows throughthe open valve 34 into chamber 32. When the'liquid Y generator 10.

in chamber 32 rises a suflicient height itsihons through pipe 36 into the heated chamr 29 and partially vaporizes. The resulting vapor pressure in chamber 29 forces the liquid contained in the chamber 32 back through the valve 34 toward the absorber. The hot vapors coming in contact 'with the bellows or other means in the heat operated valve 34 causes the latter to close; Pressure is then built up in chamber-29 and the liquid is expelled through check v'alve 38, heat exchanger 23, and conduit 39 into the When all the liquid has been expelled from chamber 29 there is no source of hotvapor for heating the valve 34 to maintain-it in its closed position. Due to the poor heat conductivity of the vapor in chamber 29 and the radiation of heat through the fins 35, the valve 34 will cool and the pressure drop in chamber 29 allows the check valve 38 toclose.

Upon coolin the valve 34 opens, permitting absorption hquid from the absorber to enter which further cools the valve causing it to open wide and the cycle is again re ated.

The heat operated valve 34 may of any desired type of which there are several used in commercial practice at the present time. The exact arrangement of parts is not essential and may be modified, for instance. as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawin which illustrates an arrangement where y the pump chamber may be heated by the same sourceof heat used to heat the generator. In this arrangement the generator 10 is provided with an additional chamber 40 and both the en erator and the chamber 40 may be heate by some means such as a burner 11 in a flue 41 which extends through both the generator and the chamber 40. The lower part of chamber 40 is connected to the enerator through a conduit 42 in which there 1s a check valve 43. The upper part of chamber 40 is connected to the absorber 19 through conduit'44, heat operated valve 45 and conduit 46. Valve 45 is similar to the valve 34 described-in connection with the system shown in Fig. 1. A fluid tight vessel 47 is connected to the absorber 19 through conduit 48 in which there is a check valve 49 and the uppenglart of the vessel is connected to the valve 45 ough conduits 50 and 44. A si hon 51 within vessel 47 communicates with the pump chamber 40 through heat exchanger 23. :In operation, enriched absorption liquid flows from the absorber 19 through the check valve 49 into vessel .47 in which the liquid level rises until the siphon is started. The enriched liquid flows through the heat exchanger23 into the chamber 40. Both in the heat exchanger 23 and the 40 ammonia vapor is glegerated which starts-to flow into the absor r through conduit 44, valve 45 and conduit-46, but when the hot gas reaches the valve 45 the latter closes re- -flue 41 this heat will be absorbedto expel ammonia vapor from solution in the generator 10 and at the same time the valve 45 cools due to the radiation of heat by the fins 52 and the poor heat conductivity of the vapor. Cooling of the valve 45 may be accomplished either by heat radiation from a large surface as shown or by the circulation of cooling water if desired. Upon cooling, valve 45 opens, relieving the pressure in chamber 40 into the absorber 19 and absorp tion liquid can again flow into the vessel 47 and the cycle is repeated.

With this arrangement the heat from the burner 11 is automatically divided between the chamber 40 and the generator 10, that is, when there is liquid in the chamber 40, that is the coolest spot in the area subjected to heat and absorbs heat from the burner, but during the low pressure part of the pumping cycle the generator 10 is the coolest part of the heated area and absorbs heat from the burner.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various other changes may be made in the construction and arrangement without departing from the spirit of the invention and therefore the invention is not limited to what is shown in the drawing and described in the specification but only as indicated in the appended claims.

I claim: Y 1. In a refrigerating apparatus of the con.- ti nuous absorption type, means for transferring absorption liquid from the absorber to the generator, said means including a heated vessel and a heat operated valve connected respectively in series between the generator 7 and the absorber.

2. In an absorption refrigerating system of the continuous t 0, means for transferring liquid from thea rbertothe enerat'or, said means comprising a fluid tig t vessel, an open top li u1d container within said vessel, a siphon om said container into said vessel, a'heat operated valve connected between the absorber and said container, and

a connection between said vessel and the gen-, erator.

3. In a refrigerating system of the continuous absor ion type, a generator, a fluid tight vessei a common heating means for said generator and said vessel, a fluid connection between said vessel and said generator, an absorber, a conduit between said vessel and said absorber, a heat operated valve in said conduit, a fluid tight container connected to the absorber, and a siphon connection between said container and said vessel.

4. In a continuous absorption refrigerating system, a generator including a boiler chamber, a pump chamber, heating means for said chambers, a conduit between said chambers, and a check valve in said conduit, an absorber, a heat operated valve connected between said pump chamber and the absorber, a closed container connected to the absorber through a check valve, and a siphon in said gontainer and connected to said pump cham- 5. In refrigerating apparatus of the continuous absorption type, means for transferring absorption liquid from the absorber to the generator comprising a liquid accumulating chamber, a continuously heated chamber, a siphon for dischargin liquid from the first to the second said cham er, a conduit for liquid from the absorber to the first said chamber, a thermal responsive valve in said conduit, a second conduit from said heated chamber to the generator, and a pressure responsive valve in lastsaid conduit.

6. In refrigerating apparatus of the continuous absorption type, means for transferring absorption liquid from the absorber to the generator comprising a liquid accumulating chamber connected to receive liquid from the absorber through a back pressurecheck valve, a continuously heated chamber connected to discharge liquid to the generator through a second back pressure check valve, 8. siphon for conducting liquid from the first to the second said chamber, a pressure equalizing conduit between said chambers, a pressure relief conduit from said chambers to said absorber, and a thermal responsive valve in last said conduit.

7. In refrigerating apparatus of the continuous absorption type, an absorption liquid circuit from the absorber to the generator segregated between check valves and having a liquid accumulating portion and a continuously heated portion, a siphon for delivering liquid from said liquid accumulating portion to said heated portion, and normally open pressure relief means for said circuit adapted to close upon a predetermined rise in temperature.

ROBERT S. TAYLOR. 

